A Beautiful Day

What a lovely surprise to wake up with the sun shining, the sky blue and just a light breeze rustling the leaves of the large beech tree that stands in our garden. A perfect autumn day to cheer the soul and warm the heart, but it was even better, because today some of the people I love were together. Lucy was coming to Langham to be with us again for the day.

Nothing could spoil a day like this. Emily and Catherine got up and made their pack lunches, had breakfast and were soon on their way to school. The drive in to Oakham with Emily was lovely and the roads were not to busy. When I got back Catherine was just walking down the walk so I gave her a cuddle and a kiss and wished her well for the day. It was just one of those mornings that makes you feel good about life.

After a coffee and shave and shower it was off to get little Lucy from her mummies and bring her back to Oakham. It was a pleasant pick up, for me at least, I said how lovely the day was and wish her mummy well, but I'm not sure it went down well, unfortunately. Lucy was in top form as always and we chatted all the way to the car and all the way home. 

When we got back to Langham we played out in garden for a while before we decided that we would take George for a short walk around the village. It wasn't a long walk we just went to the church and back but we took our time and spent some time with George in the Church yard. While we were there we saw a pair of squirrels that soon ran away when they got the scent of George. Lucy and I waited for a bit and did spot them again but we couldn't get near with the dog in tow. Lucy seemed to love their bushy tails and was completely taken with them. With the squirrels gone I let Lucy have a go at walking George. She did really well and walked him all around the church yard. Back at the road I took over George again and we made tour way slowly home via the Baptist Church. Lucy and George both seemed to have a grand time and so did I.

By lunchtime the morning sunshine had caused some clouds to bubble up from drew on the ground, but that didn't stop us as we headed out to Stamford to have lunch and have some more fun. 

When we got to Stamford we head to McDonald's for a bite to eat before heading to the recreation ground. We were going to Rascals but given how warm it was and the fact the sun had broken through the clouds it seemed a shame to go indoors when Lucy could play in the fresh air. She had a great time playing on the large and small slides, the swings, the roundabout and the bouncy toys. We even played shops for a bit with Lucy seving me all kinds of food from her café and at one point she pretended she was on the television. It was lovely to  be out in the fresh air and I hope we have more sunny days at the park before the bad weather sets in for the winter.

After we had finished at the park we popped into Waitrose on our way back to Langham. I must say that I think it is one of the best supermarkets as far as the quality of food goes and I love going there now and again to pick up a treat for dinner. Lucy, as always, charmed everyone and was really well behaved and helpful. She is a delight to take shopping.

When we got home we picked up Catherine from school with the usual big welcome from Lucy before heading off to Oakham. Emily was going to Toot's Sweets, a old fashioned sweet shop, with her friends after school and we picked her up from near the Church. Lucy was so pleased to see her and it was lovely to have them all together again. Of course there was another reason Lucy was pleased to see Emily she had some sweets left which she shared.

As soon as we arrived back home Emily and Catherine went upstairs to change with Lucy following them into the bedroom. Soon all that could be heard was the sound of playing children, laughing and having fun both inside and outside the house.

While they were playing I switched on the oven and got all the ingredients ready to make cakes as I cooked the dinner. Soon I was calling them all down to the kitchen to help me with the mixing and the pouring of the mixture into the fairy cake cases. They all had a great time doing the mixing and the pouring accept for Lucy who decided to cover her ears from the noise, but she waited for the best bit. Licking out the bowl which she later decided she could use as a hat! What a mess she made of her hair. It wasn't long before the cakes were in the oven so they could be iced and eaten after dinner.

Originally for dinner I was going to do a roast, but given how good the weather was it would have been a shame to waste the day cooking so we had a simple dinner in the end that maximized the playing and cake making time for all three of them. As they ate I got the cakes from the oven and set them down to cool. they were a lovely golden brown colour and they had risen to perfection. They were probably the best I have cooked yet with thier help. 

With dinner out the way and all the plates scraped and ready to be washed, including Lucy's who is now scrapping her own plate, it was down to the last phase of the cake making. The decoration stage. Emily was soon carefully making the icing adding a bit of water to the icing sugar until she just got the right mix. She is really getting good at this now and doesn't need to add extra sugar because she got the mix to wet. Soon the icing was on the cakes and they were drawing on them with a small tube of black icing and making all kinds of crazy patterns and faces. They really seemed to have fun. As soon as the first one was finished it was in Lucy's hands and off she went to eat it. The first of two she had before she left. 

Soon it was time to get Lucy changed and back to her mummies house. She didn't want to go at first, but she had some sweets to take back with her and with them as the incentive to get changed she was soon ready. After cuddles and kisses from Emily and Catherine we walked down the walk hand in hand to the car and after the short drive she was back with her mummies. As always she gave a super cuddle and she told me she loved me, and I told her I love her too and to be good for her mummy, which I'm sure she is.

With Lucy gone, Emily and Catherine set about their home work. With Catherine now in year 6 she is starting to get a lot of homework in preparation for her STAT's test at the end of the year. I know now she not looking forward to them but I know the school will prepare her the best they can and she will get a lot of support from me. After the homework they relaxed in the family room until bedtime and off they went to sleep. It's an early start in the morning for both of them, so they had an early night. 

It has been a super day and the weather couldn't have been better. I wasn't going to let anything spoil it and nothing really did. There was a minor hiccup but that didn't change a thing. Something, I have had to learn is nothing or nobody can change how you feel, you feel what you feel and their is no use denying it. After all, everyday has it's ups and downs, so try and look at the bigger picture and see each day for what it is, and this was a super day. 

Sunday at Home

After all the excitement of the parks yesterday afternoon and a Sunday lunch to cook for everyone I decided we should all have a nice day at home until after Lucy returned to her mummies. in any case it was a cold grey start to the day with a chilly wind and there was cakes to make to keep people busy.

Lucy had a bit of restless night. I think she is starting to dream and the dreams are waking her up sometimes, she woke before six this morning and I got her back to sleep until eight. She was still tired and she went back to straight back to sleep, all I know that something disturbed her, but she seemed alright.

When Lucy did wake for the final time we came downstairs to a lovely good morning from George in his cage. Lucy had a banana and then we settled down together to watch some television together in the chair before Catherine came down to join us. After a cuddle from Catherine for Lucy, Catherine went off to make them both a bowl of cereal each which they sat down and ate together. I love the way Catherine just makes her breakfast without even asking.

When Emily got up we started making chocolate chip cakes. Nine in total. One each after they cooled and two each for after dinner. They had great fun mixing the ingredients, pouring the mixture and of course the best bit licking the bowl. Little Lucy was covered in cake mix by the time she had finished and the clean top I had put on her a few hours had to go back in the washing machine. If mess equals fun for a two year old then Lucy had lots of fun.

After the cakes came out of the oven they were replaced with the chicken for our Sunday dinner and while the cakes cooled Lucy and myself went off to the farm shop to get some potatoes for dinner. While we were there I showed Lucy the chickens that had laid our eggs that we had yesterday and that we used in the cake. She loved them and every time we pass she say's hello chickens so it was nice for her to see them all.

When I got home they all had the first of their cakes and I had a coffee. As soon I had finished that I went back into the kitchen with Lucy and I started to prepare the vegetables. Lucy standing on her blue stool was taking the peelings and putting them in a jug and mixing them like she was cooking. If that wasn't fun enough the radio started playing "We No Speak Americano" and we both started dancing to the beat with me chopping carrots in time. It was one of those lovely moments that are so special. I can see us playing that in the car when it all fixed and working again.

For dinner today we had roast chicken, garlic mini roasts, roast parsnips, spring greens, carrots, runner beans and yorkshire puddings. A meal fit for a princess and with three princesses in the house just what was needed to feed hungry tummies. It  was really nice and with the promise of chocolate cake for pudding Lucy tried everything and ate quite well. 

While we were having dinner we got a text saying that Lucy's mummy was delayed in B&Q and would be 30 minutes late home. I didn't mind too much, it just meant we had to change our plans as regards doing the shopping and take Lucy with us. The problem was I couldn't grantee the drop off time and in the end she went back nearly an hour after her normal drop off time on a Sunday. The least said about the drop off the better, but I did send Lucy off with the sweets she brought for Mary at the supermarket yesterday and some more that she got today, it didn't end well today.

After Lucy left us we head out to Melton country park to have some fun and take George for a walk. At last he is getting better in the car and sat in the back with the girls and looked out the window on the way there and sat on Emily's lap on the way back. At the country park Emily made some friends and started building a shelter out of dead wood that was laying about against one of the trees and when Catherine found her she joined in. Unfortunately the aerial runway was in use nearly all the time but I'm glad they had a great time with the shelter. I know George enjoyed his walk with Catherine. I also manage to get a couple of great photographs of a toad I found in the woods when I was getting wood for Emily.

When we got home we had a quick dinner and Emily and Catherine settled down to watch a film before it was time for Catherine's shower and then bed for both of them. 

It has been a lovely weekend and I'm so glad Lucy is staying two nights instead of one. It feels like this is her home again and not just somewhere she passes through and that is important to me. I want her to know it is her home and she is always welcome anytime. I love all my children to bits and always will. It is just a shame they can't be together all the time but that will never happen now.

Catherine's Birthday

It was a very special day for Catherine, her tenth Birthday. Strange to think she is ten already when it wasn't too long ago that she was Lucy size. 

Of course Catherine was first up, although she wasn't so bad as to come and wake me up. She just waited to hear me moving before she got out of bed. She couldn't wait to get to her cards and was soon asking for her big present, her first mobile phone. She been talking about the phone for months and she knew exactly which model, network and price plan she wanted. It was great to see her eyes light up as I gave her the box. Now she has a phone she feels so grown up.

After getting Emily and Catherine off to school I set about sorting out Catherine's phone. Registering the hand set, getting her credit and sorting out the price plan. There was just time left to have a very quick shower before getting our Lucy from her mummies.

Lucy and myself came home for a bit to get her changed before heading out to Oakham park for the morning. She had great fun there as always and when she got hungry we headed off for a special treat at the Castle Cottage Café. She was rubbing her tummy saying it was hurting so I knew she needed food. 

At the café I order her a sandwich and a chocolate milkshake while I had a lovely pot of tea. I had never been there before but passed it many times. I must say it lived up to expectations. The food was a bit pricey but the quality was excellent. Lucy was very good at the café but she tends to be very good where ever she is so that wasn't much of a surprise. It was funny when she finished her milkshake and rubbed her tummy and said "all better now". It one of those special moments of fun that remain with you. It was a bit at the end when I came to pay. The woman I gave the money too was amazingly nervous. She was physically shacking. Not sure what that was about, but it was rather odd. Any way we had a great time.

When we returned home we had a party to get ready for. The first thing to do was baking a birthday cake for Catherine. Lucy starting to love making cakes, it is all the licking the bowels out at the end, she full of enthusiasm with anything to do with cooking. I put that done to her mummy who use to bake cakes for school. I try and do that but I don't have the time to bake for the school, although I do bake with the girls.

After the cake was in we started making all the other food and preparing the hot food that would follow the cakes in the oven. Soon we had a complete birthday dinner that we put on the ready to  eat.

Unfortunately Catherine's couldn't come to tea but we had a lovely time munching on all the food. It is nice to do something special and I was so glad that they were altogether for Catherine's Birthday. I know Catherine was so pleased that Lucy was there and that she got a card from Lucy's mummy and and of course dear little Mary. 

The food went down very well and so did the cake. At Lucy's home time we wrapped a bit of the cake Lucy helped make for Mary. I hope she enjoyed as much as we all did. 

I know Catherine had a great party and Birthday weekend. She really enjoyed herself as did everyone else at the party with all the finger food. It great to see them so happy. I love them all to bits.

Rest Day

After the excitement of yesterday the day has been really quiet. The girls really didn’t want to do much but chill out and rest. I guess it not surprising after yesterday,  it was pretty much full on fun.

Catherine and Lucy were up first, Lucy by a long way as she woke at six in the morning and ended up in my bed until nine. I had to get her out of bed in the end or she wouldn’t have slept for her mummy at bedtime. When they got downstairs they settled down to breakfast made by Catherine’s fair hand before heading off to the family room to chill together in front of the TV. Eventually they were joined by Emily after Lucy insisted that she needed waking up and join them. All they did was lazy and play. It is lovely to hear them so happy while I cook with a little help from Lucy.

For lunch we had roast pork and all the trimmings that was enjoyed by all. Lucy seemed to love the pork scratchings which she couldn’t stop eating. I love our Sunday lunches together they mean the world to me.

After Lunch it was more lazing around and playing for them all. Lucy played with the trains for a while and Emily and Catherine had some computer time before they all started play together again before Lucy went back to her mummies.

Dinner was a simple affair after the big meal of the day. Bacon sandwiches for Emily and myself and cheese sandwiches for Catherine. I love bacon sandwiches especially in the morning with loads of mushrooms in fresh crusty bread. It is one of my comfort foods from the past.

With Catherine over excited about her birthday tomorrow the girls went off to bed and talking about the coming day. 

Cakes

Just a quick update on what has been happening on the days while I work. 

Well with the weather being fine I haven't seen much of the girls. They have both been out most of the time enjoying the lovely warm weather. 

On Tuesday Emily took part in the Rutland Schools sport event and I took I decided that it would be nice for Catherine and me to do some baking so we made a chocolate  sponge cake covered in milk chocolate. They both loved it and saved some for their packed lunch the following day.

Wednesday was a quite day at home after a long day at work. Both girls spent most of the time outside having fun. Although emily fell out with Charlie, but that is nothing new. Sure they will be best of friends again soon.

Today it was Emily's turn to do some baking and we made another sponge cake this time covered in icing. We did this while Catherine played with her friend that she had round after school. Catherine had a great time with her friend and I tasted some of Emily's cake and it was lush.

Sometimes I wish I could do more with them on the days I work but I know they know I have to get up early and I'm generally tired so I can on do what I can.